Acceptance of Annual Booster Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Among Indian Healthcare Professionals: A Pan-India Cross-Sectional Survey

Ekta Krishna; Venkatesh Karthikeyan; Shamshad Ahmad; Alok Ranjan; Abul Hasan Km; Sanjay Pandey; Pragya Kumar; C M Singh

doi:10.7759/cureus.49363

Acceptance of Annual Booster Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Among Indian Healthcare Professionals: A Pan-India Cross-Sectional Survey

Cureus. 2023 Nov 24;15(11):e49363. doi: 10.7759/cureus.49363. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Ekta Krishna¹, Venkatesh Karthikeyan¹, Shamshad Ahmad¹, Alok Ranjan¹, Abul Hasan Km², Sanjay Pandey¹, Pragya Kumar³, C M Singh¹

Affiliations

¹ Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Patna, IND.
² Pediatric Surgery, City Hospital Erode, Erode, IND.
³ Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Patna, IND.

Abstract

Introduction The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) posed significant challenges to global health, leading to the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Vaccination efforts have effectively reduced severe outcomes and mortality, but breakthrough infections and new variants are of concern. In response, annual booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines are being considered to maintain immunity. Healthcare professionals, as frontline workers, play a pivotal role in vaccination campaigns. This study explores their attitudes toward and willingness to accept annual COVID-19 booster doses in India. Methods A pan-India cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare professionals, including faculty, resident doctors, interns, and nursing staff, across Indian medical and nursing colleges. Convenience sampling was used to collect responses via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed demographics, vaccine status, attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination, and willingness to accept annual booster doses. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of booster dose acceptance. Results A total of 535 participants responded from 28 states and 8 union territories of India. Most were 34.2 years (± 11.1 SD), and 372 (69.5%) had taken Covishield (Serum Institute of India, Pune, India) as their primary vaccine. While 525 (98.1%) had taken the first dose and 518 (96.8%) of them had taken the second dose, only 333 (62.2%) had received a booster. Around 318 (60%) of healthcare professionals were willing to accept an annual booster dose. The mean attitude score toward annual booster doses was 75.4 (range: 28-111). Healthcare professionals' trust in government recommendations and medical experts significantly influenced their willingness to accept annual booster doses. Conclusion This study provides insights into the attitudes of healthcare professionals in India toward annual COVID-19 booster doses. At the same time, a significant proportion showed a willingness to accept boosters.

Keywords: attitude; booster doses; covid-19 vaccine; periodic dose; third booster dose; vaccine hesitancy; willingness.